Trees – the seed of new hope

Donald McClure | May 06, 2010 | Comments 5

Alone with myself

The trees bend to caress me

The shade hugs my heart

-Candy Polger

It was a perfect spring morning last Sunday when the Prince Edward Stewardship Council set up their offertory tables under the porch of the cattle barn at the Picton Fair Grounds to hand out native trees to the public. Smoothly and with little fanfare this dedicated group handed out healthy whips of white pine, white and red oak, sugar maple, white spruce, white cedar, Norway spruce, butternut and nannyberry to a steady line of people — all heading home with a bonanza of dreams to plant.

Eastern Red Bud. Donald McClure photo

Within five minutes of my arrival I was packing away butternut and nannyberry specimens in the car destined for the lot behind our home to join our already stirring collection of white pine, walnut, Eastern red bud, Kentucky Coffee, white ash, white birch, sugar maple and black spruce all putting our leaves and buds after the winter slow down.

The notion of spreading the distribution of native trees throughout the County and the region mirrors a program initiated last summer by the Loyalist Parkway Association chair Court Noxon, which spear-headed a tree planting program to offer native maple or oak seedlings to people living on the Loyalist Parkway — all planted and funded by the Association.

Red Oak Seedling. Court Noxon photo

Both of these programs will help ensure that future visitors will be able to see native trees on their travels through one of the most beautifully preserved regions in Eastern Ontario.

By coincidence I am honoured tonight to be invited to accompany Court Noxon to Belleville to receive his much-deserved Ontario Volunteer Service Award — not only for this program but for over 25 years of service to an organization dedicated to maintaining the the natural and cultural integrity of this highway.

Filed Under: Donald McClure • Uncategorized

Tags: gardens

About the Author: He can tickle your funny bone or tug at your heart strings. County people may know him as a chronicler of everything that happens (or should happen) in the garden, but his interests stretch across the natural world. His unique sense of observation takes in a wide expanse of living and may even point out some truths about our own condition as managers of the world around us. With Loyalist antecedents in his family tree his roots go deep into the Ontario countryside.

Comments (5)

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Kelly says:

Thursday, July 15th, 2010 at 11:55 pm

My naturalized garden is out of control – what should I do? Who should I call? Thanks!
Kelly says:

Friday, May 14th, 2010 at 8:07 pm

Fabulous idea! We need this type of program in South Simcoe County!
David says:

Friday, May 14th, 2010 at 9:45 am

Hey Don!
Great article! Great picture of you! Glad to see you writing for the County again. Keep it coming!
Andrew says:

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 at 10:09 am

An excellent program. Beautiful photographs. Why are events like this not happening in all communities? Keep up the wonderful writing.
student scholarship says:

Saturday, May 8th, 2010 at 5:23 am

Keep posting stuff like this i really like it

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